5/13/2025
Midwest Drag Racing Series
History Made in Tulsa: Father-Son Sweep Headlines Family-Powered Wins at MWDRS Spring Throwdown
The 2025 Spring Throwdown in T-Town at Osage Casino & Hotel Tulsa Raceway Park delivered a weekend of unforgettable moments and milestone achievements in the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS). At the heart of the action were the Wells and Pennington families, who wrote a new chapter in MWDRS history as they accounted for FIVE of the Seven Class Wins! The Penningtons took home victories in Top Dragster and swept both Junior classes, while the Wells family owned the spotlight with wins in Pro Mod and Top Sportsman—including a jaw-dropping debut by 16-year-old Tyler Wells in his first “big car” race.
Miss the event? Rewatch the full Throwdown weekend—including final rounds—on the MWDRS Facebook or YouTube pages. Free streaming thanks to our partners!
This wasn’t the first time the Wells duo celebrated dual wins. Back in 2023 at Thunder in the Valley in Noble, Oklahoma, Aaron captured a Pro Mod Slammers victory while Tyler claimed the Junior Slammers win. But in Tulsa, both earned top-class victories on the same night, cementing their place in MWDRS history.
Stroud Safety Pro Mod Presented by Larry Jeffers Race Cars
Aaron Wells drove his newly painted “Bullitt” Mustang to victory in one of the toughest Pro Mod fields of the season. After overcoming mechanical issues in qualifying and surviving a sticky first round with the car stuck in low gear, Wells found his rhythm. He took out early championship contender Ron Muenks in the semis before defeating Jacob McNeal in a Scott Palmer-tuned Barracuda during the finals with a 3.619 pass.
Finals:
Aaron Wells – 3.619 over Jacob McNeal (tire shake)
Pro Mod Slammers
Ray Martin, driving Jim Whiteley’s Camaro, grabbed the win in Pro Mod Slammers with a 3.668 over Robert Costa, who red-lit in the final.
Finals:
Ray Martin – 3.668 over Robert Costa (red)
#1 Qualifier: Ron Muenks – 3.662
Pro Mod Highlights:
The Top Four Qualifiers were within 0.006, Ron Muenks (3.662), Keith Haney (3.663), Robert Davis (3.665) and Bob Glenn (3.668)
Todd Martin raced his new Mustang for the first time, qualifying 8th with a 3.698 in just his seventh pass in the car.
Bob Glenn and Robert Davis traveled from Florida for their MWDRS debut.
Chris Russo made the trip from New Hampshire for his second MWDRS appearance.
In an attempt to collect as many points as possible, while still attending his daughter's Master Degree Graduation, Keith Haney ran the Black Mamba to a Second Place Qualifier. He raced in E1, defeating fellow nitrous racer Ryan Bush, before jumping on a plane to make it to graduation just in time!
Crossover Moment: Funny Car racer Ray Martin piloted the J&A Service Camaro to a Pro Mod Slammers win.
Wild Card: Jacob McNeal, from Alaska, drove the Stouffer Racing 'Cuda to the finals before a violent tire shake ended his run.
Compressed Air Supercharging Top Sportsman
Breakout Moment of the Weekend
In what may be one of the most impressive debuts in MWDRS history, 16-year-old Tyler Wells captured his first-ever big car victory. The three-time Junior Dragster champion had only recently been licensed to compete, driving the same car his father once piloted in Pro Mod. Tyler stormed through a loaded field that included Michael Chitty and Travis Leach to claim the win over Todd Stallbaumer.
As Tyler crossed the finish line, the Tulsa crowd erupted—everyone on their feet as the 16-year-old made MWDRS history.
Finals:
Tyler Wells over Todd Stallbaumer
#1 Qualifier: JJ Huber – 4.23
Top Sportsman Highlights:
Surprise Exit: Three-peat and reigning champ Rod Moore went out in Round 1—again—a rarity over the past three seasons.
Jeremy Maples advanced to Round 2 in his Grand Am.
Icon Forged Pistons Top Dragster
It was a celebration for the Pennington family in Top Dragster, as the Wade Pennington-owned car driven by Keith Youngblood secured the win over Kati Laughter.
Finals:
Keith Youngblood over Kati Laughter
#1 Qualifier: Orn Ingolfsson – 3.73
Top Dragster Highlights:
Personal Best Weekend: Kati Laughter ran career bests to every increment in Q2 and chopped down the tree with a 0.008 in both Round 1 and 2 of Eliminations.
Defending Champion Jordan Eperjesi was eliminated in Round One.
J&A Service Funny Car
Jim Whiteley laid down the quickest run of the weekend with a 3.608 to take the win over defending champ Steven Macklyn, who red-lit with a 3.628.
Finals:
Jim Whiteley – 3.608 over Steven Macklyn (red)
#1 Qualifier: Jim Whiteley – 3.622
Funny Car Highlights:
Trey Newkirk made his MWDRS debut.
Kirk Williams reached the semifinals after taking out Mark Billington.
Top Run: Whiteley’s 3.608 in the final was the quickest pass of the event.
Champion Auto Lift Pro 4.20
Dave Pierce continued to prove why he's the reigning champ. He nailed a .005 reaction time to hold off Case Hudelson and extend his 2025 dominance.
Finals:
Dave Pierce (.005) – 4.233 over Case Hudelson (.085) – 4.200
#1 Qualifier: Dave Pierce – 4.202
Pro 4.20 Highlights:
Jessica Ogden, daughter of James Ogden, ran the “Double Nickel” '55 and nearly advanced, but went red by just -0.018.
Sneak Peek: Macy Higgins debuted a stunning new Camaro in testing and plans to run it at the next event.
Junior Dragsters (Race Star Wheels Pro & Zimmerman Properties Sportsman)
The Pennington family swept the Junior classes:
Karlee Brundidge won Race Star Wheels Pro Juniors over Abigail Wilson.
Jovee Brundidge took Zimmerman Sportsman Juniors over Brooklynn Mayee.
Kenzie Wells added to the Wells family trophy haul with two round wins in Pro Juniors.
Pro Juniors Finals:
Karlee Brundidge over Abigail Wilson
#1 Qualifier: Abigail Wilson – 0.007 RT
Sportsman Juniors Finals:
Jovee Brundidge over Brooklynn Mayee
#1 Qualifier: Kasen Gray – 0.049 RT
No Time 28
WILD RIDE ALERT
Lance Knigge captured the win under the lights, but the talk of the night came from Roy Allen, who sent pistons through both sides of the block in the Hayseed Camaro—then made one of the best saves of the weekend, keeping the car off both walls and away from his competitor.
No Time Highlights:
Larry Larson ran on small tires in the X-Insurance Nova, making it to Round 2.
Local Hero: Roy Allen’s incredible driving turned near-catastrophe into a textbook example of car control.
What’s Next: Shakedown in M’Town
The Summit Racing Equipment MWDRS returns later this month at the Shakedown in M’Town in Martin, Michigan—a Duck X Production combining MWDRS Pro Mod, Top Sportsman, and Top Dragster with Radial vs. The World, Pro 275, X275 and more. Don’t miss what’s shaping up to be one of the wildest weekends of 2025!
Article Credit: Michael Narx
Submitted By: Michael Narx
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